Stimulating improved quality of life ...

After suffering a stroke patients are frequently left with a weakness in the muscles which lift one or both feet (dorsiflexion of the foot). This disability makes walking difficult, forcing the patient to adopt an unnatural 'limping walk', and leaves the patient prone to falling and injury when the foot drags on the ground whilst swinging the leg forward. Walking requires much more effort and concentration causing the patient to tire quickly.

 The STIMuSTEP system stimulates the muscles which lift the foot, allowing a more natural walking gait, reduced “limping”, and lowers the effort required to walk. The result is that the patient can usually walk faster with less effort and the frequency of falls is significantly reduced. 

Part of the system is implanted under the skin just below the knee joint and two electrodes are connected to the nerves that activate the muscles which lift the foot. A controller is placed on the skin over the implant and held in position by an elastic belt. The controller transmits radio signals to activate the implanted receiver which stimulates the nerves controlling the muscles  lifting the foot. A switch is placed under the heel of the affected foot and linked to the controller by a cable, this switch provides a signal which synchronises the stimulator with the patients walking gait.

After suffering a stroke patients are frequently left with a weakness in the muscles which lift one or both feet (dorsiflexion of the foot). This disability makes walking difficult, forcing the patient to adopt an unnatural 'limping walk', and leaves the patient prone to falling and injury when the foot drags on the ground whilst swinging the leg forward. Walking requires much more effort and concentration causing the patient to tire quickly. Usually patients will be prescribed a foot-ankle orthosis, of which there are many different types, which usually prevent the wearing of normal dress shoes.

The advantages of the STIMuSTEP system are:

• It increases walking speed
• It significantly decreases the effort of walking.
• Promotes a more natural gait
• Reduces compensatory “hip hitching” and out-swinging of the leg.
• Increases user confidence in walking
• Reduces frequency of falls during walking
• Allows adjustment of the way the foot strikes the ground
• Allows adjustment of the degree and timing of foot dorsiflexion.
• Promotes active re-education of walking gait
• The system is Cosmetically discreet and allows more freedom of choice of footware.
• The system also helps to avoid wasting of the lower leg muscles and maintains ankle mobility.